Chicago Injury Law Blog

New Research on Epilepsy Drugs and Birth Defects

questions@pintas.com (William G. Pintas) — Thu, 26 May 2011 09:04:45 -0600

Epilepsy drugs have long been linked to an increase risk of birth defects when ingested during the first trimester of pregnancy. Late last year a study revealed that Tegretol increases the risk of spina bifida, which causes severe brain injuries, learning disabilities and retardation. Another study found that Depakote was twice as likely to cause birth defects, including spina bifida and cleft palates.

Given the likelihood of these adverse events, treating a woman with epilepsy during pregnancy is a challenging task. It may take multiple medications to control seizures and uncontrolled epilepsy can also harm a fetus. Doctors walk a fine line between controlling seizures in pregnant women and reducing developmental problems. A new study of more than 800,000 births may provide some reassurance to doctors and their pregnant patients. In this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association, Danish researchers reported that new epilepsy drugs do not increase the risk of birth defects when taken during pregnancy. Only about 3.2% of children exposed to the newer drugs, which included Lamictal, Trileptal, and Neurontin, were born with birth defects. This percentage is only slightly higher than the 2.4% birth defect risk for children born to women who did not take any anti-epileptic drugs.

Pregnant women still need to be cautious, because the results are limited to a single study and more research needs to be conducted to provide a complete assessment of the risks. Also, researchers did not reach any conclusions about Topomax, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warn may carry a 16 times higher risk of birth defects.

Medical malpractice lawyers at Pintas & Mullins have helped many pregnant women whose children have suffered as a result of taking medications with dangerous side effects. We are committed to helping the victims of dangerous drugs receive the compensation that they deserve.

Diuretics Increase Risk of Nursing Home Falls

questions@pintas.com (William G. Pintas) — Wed, 25 May 2011 08:59:25 -0600

Falls are a leading cause of injury for nursing home residents, and the consequences can be life-threatening. Many elderly residents are prone to serious fall-related complications, including broken bones, bruises, and brain injury. Even a fear of falling can harm a resident’s quality of life, causing them to limit their mobility and lose muscle tone or balance.

Several classes of medications have already been shown to increase the risk for falls, including sedatives and antidepressants. New research shows that diuretics, or water pills, can also increase fall risk because they cause dizziness and dehydration. Although it has long been suspected that the use of diuretics contributes to falls, this study is one of the first to conclusively show a causal link. Researchers studied more than 1,000 nursing home residents at the Boston-based Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, all over the age of 60. Results showed that residents who received a new prescription for a diuretic or whose diuretic dosage increased were more than twice as likely to fall within one day of receiving their new prescriptions. Residents using loop diuretics, which increase calcium excretion, were most at risk,

This data shows the importance of implementing fall prevention measures in nursing homes. Surveillance should be increased for at least 2 days following a change in diuretics. Residents should also be instructed to take the medication during the day, because fall risk is elevated at night. Loved ones place a great deal of trust in nursing homes and expect that safety of residents is always a priority. Medications that increase fall risk should be accompanied by increased surveillance and safety measures.

Nursing home attorneys at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm understand that families of elderly residents expect careful, conscientious care from nursing home facilities. The law requires that nursing home residents receive adequate care to prevent fall-related accidents. Even low-level falls can cause serious injury or death. If your loved one has suffered a broken bone or other serious complication from a nursing home fall, we will work zealously to ensure that the nursing home is held accountable for their neglect.

Avandia Pulled From Pharmacy Shelves Nationwide

questions@pintas.com (William G. Pintas) — Tue, 24 May 2011 08:58:16 -0600

Thousands of patients have already suffered the adverse effects of Avandia, a popular diabetes drug that poses a serious heart attack risk. Now the federal government is finally stepping in, with an announcement that it will pull Avandia from retail pharmacy store shelves beginning November 18. The drug will be available only through a special mail-order program to diabetic patients who cannot control their blood sugar levels with any other drugs.

Avandia was once the world’s best-selling diabetes pill, generating about $3 billion in revenue for London-based GlaxoSmithKline. Sales dropped in 2007 when the FDA found clear evidence that Avandia was linked to more than 83,000 heart attacks, but the risk was not enough to deter most patients, and the drug still remained in widespread use. A Bloomberg report shows that 235,000 patients filled an Avandia prescription in January.

The FDA severely restricted use of the drug in September 2010, but the latest restriction is much closer to a complete recall. Only a very limited number of patients will be able to receive a prescription for Avandia via a mail order from specially-certified pharmacies. And those patients must also be enrolled in a special program to ensure that they are fully informed about the risks of Avandia before they decide to take the drug.

The new restrictions are promising because they impose strong government oversight, require informed patient consent, and encourage patients to consider less dangerous alternatives. But it will take 6 months for the program to be fully implemented, and patients are still being exposed to serious health risks every day that they take their Avandia prescriptions. Avandia increases the risk of heart attack by nearly 40 percent in people with Type II diabetes, who are already much more prone to a heart attack than those without the disease. For these patients, the restrictions may be too little, too late. Drug recall attorneys at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm will continue to advocate on behalf of all patients who have been harmed by Avandia and will continue to push for a complete recall of the dangerous drug.

Jury Awards Largest Asbestos Verdict in History

questions@pintas.com (William G. Pintas) — Mon, 23 May 2011 06:25:10 -0600

In a promising move for all victims of asbestos-related injuries, a Mississippi jury recently awarded a 48-year-old man the single largest plaintiff’s asbestos verdict in history.

In a case against major industrial players Chevron Phillips Chemical and Union Carbide Corporation, Thomas Brown Jr. was awarded $322 for future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. Brown, who worked in the oil fields of Mississippi from the late 1970’s through the early 1980’s, inhaled asbestos dust while on the job. Doctors diagnosed Brown with asbestosis and he is currently on oxygen 24-hours a day.

The consequences of asbestosis are severe. The disease induces lung scarring and shortness of breath, which can worsen over time. Asbestos exposure can also lead to cancer and even death. CP Chemical and Union Carbide continued to market their products long after they knew of the dangers and put innocent workers at risk.

Chicago attorneys at Pintas & Mullins are encouraged by the jury’s verdict that could set the tone for future asbestos litigation. The decision puts the safety of workers ahead of company profits and holds two irresponsible companies accountable for the suffering that their defective products knowingly caused

Nursing Homes Force Feeding Tubes on Elderly Dementia Patients

questions@pintas.com (William G. Pintas) — Fri, 20 May 2011 06:23:13 -0600

The decision to allow the insertion of a feeding tube is one of the toughest decisions that families of elderly nursing home residents have to face. Seniors with advanced dementia eventually develop problems eating and swallowing as their disease progresses, and they are unable to speak for themselves. Family members are left struggling with the emotional and controversial decision to allow tube feeding in order to meet the needs of their loved ones.

A recent New York Times report could make this decision even more difficult. Tube feeding is an invasive procedure with serious risks, but there is no evidence that the procedure improves survival rates or prolongs patients’ quality of life. Nevertheless, about a third of elderly nursing home residents with advanced dementia receive feeding tubes based largely on misguided decisions.

Basic time and care can help seniors who have difficulty eating and drinking, and artificial nutrition should only be used as a last resort. But time is a convenience that many nursing homes do not have, and some go so far as to require that elderly patients be fitted with a tube in order to be admitted. This is a disturbing trend that does not afford seniors the respect that they deserve in their final chapter of life. Even when physicians ask for permission to insert a feeding tube, many family members say they feel pressured to agree, or they are not fully informed of the risks involved. These risks include infection, nausea, vomiting, and the possibility that the patient may rip out the tube in distress.

Chicago nursing home attorneys at Pintas & Mullins remain committed to the belief that a nursing home patient’s dignity and quality of life must be respected at all times, and family members should be fully informed and involved in difficult decisions that affect their loved ones. Convenience should never be substituted for quality care.

Nursing Home Residents Given Drugs That Nearly Doubled Their Risk of Death

questions@pintas.com (William G. Pintas) — Thu, 19 May 2011 11:24:58 -0600

Medication errors are an unfortunate reality of our healthcare system, as far too many nursing homes are understaffed and ill prepared to meet resident’s needs. These errors not only threaten the health and safety of vulnerable elderly residents, they also cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

The New York Times Old Age Blog revealed a shocking new report from the Department of Health and Human Services that shows hundreds of thousands of elderly nursing home residents with dementia were overmedicated with strong anti-psychotic drugs that increased their risk of death. These drugs include Seroquel, Risperdal, and Zyprexa, which are meant to treat serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia.

There is ample evidence that drug companies have aggressively marketed these anti-psychotic drugs to dementia patients, even though such use is potentially lethal. A series of recent lawsuits and settlements show that drug companies routinely put profits before safety. Eli Lilly pleaded guilty to criminal charges for illegally marketing its drug Zyprexa, Pfizer settled a claim that its anti-psychotic drugs were improperly promoted for off label uses, and federal prosecution is pending against Johnson & Johnson for allegedly paying kickbacks to nursing homes to increase Risperdal prescriptions for dementia patients.

Taxpayers ultimately pay the price for these medication errors. The government audit found that more than half of all Medicare claims for atypical anti-psychotic drugs were erroneous, costing about $116 million in taxpayer funds in 2007.

Chicago nursing home attorneys at Pintas & Mullins have represented many nursing home residents whose lives have been irreversibly harmed by medication errors. Families of nursing home residents should be able to trust that their loved ones are being taken care of and these drug errors unjustifiably deprive them of the safety and security that they deserve

FDA Orders Artificial Hip Makers to Study More Data

questions@pintas.com (William G. Pintas) — Wed, 18 May 2011 09:06:02 -0600

The dangers associated with metal-on-metal hip implant devices have already prompted thousands of lawsuits in Illinois and across the country. Now regulators are taking a closer look, ordering implant makers to further study the safety of their devices.

The Food and Drug Administration is primarily concerned with metal particles that may be shed into a patient’s bloodstream, causing heart, nervous system, or thyroid gland problems. The agency is seeking more scientific data on the frequency, timing, and severity of these adverse reactions.

Early failure rates and severe health problems led DePuy Orthopedics, a division of Johnson &Johnson, to recall nearly 100,000 of its metal-on-metal hip implants back in August. DePuy is one of more than 20 manufacturers ordered to comply with the FDA’s request.

It is rare for the agency to require additional studies after a product has already hit the market. But most hip implants were approved for sale before they were properly tested, resulting in serious consequences. Although it may be too late for some patients who have already suffered the debilitating effects of a defective device, these studies may help to prevent future harm.

Long before regulators stepped in, Illinois medical malpractice attorneys at Pintas & Mullins have been investigating the adverse consequences that metal-on-metal hip implant patients have suffered. Our hip implant lawyers will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of those who have been injured by a defective device.

Nursing Homes Seek Health Care Law Exemption

questions@pintas.com (William G. Pintas) — Tue, 17 May 2011 09:04:18 -0600

Many nursing home employees who provide critical care for our nation’s seniors lack adequate, affordable health care of their own. According to recent estimates, one in four nursing home employees do not have health care coverage.

The new health care law is supposed to fix the problem. Beginning in 2014, the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act will require that all employers who have 50 or more full-time employees offer affordable health care coverage or risk paying a penalty.

A New York Times cover story sheds light on an intense lobbying effort by nursing home and home care agency executives who are seeking an exemption from the law. They argue that their facilities heavily depend on Medicare and Medicaid for revenue, but the programs’ low reimbursement rates make it difficult to provide health insurance to employees. When nursing homes do offer health insurance, the benefits are often limited and employees cannot afford to pay for it.

The cost of providing additional health care insurance to caregivers may fall on the families of nursing home residents. Americans already pay at least $17,000 more per year for nursing home care than they did in 2005. Even more charges could be expected.

But ensuring that nursing home employees have access to affordable coverage may be well worth the additional cost. Nursing home injuries are common, especially for employees who lift patients and help them get out of bed. Employees who lack health insurance are less likely to seek treatment for on-the-job injuries. They are also less likely to seek treatment for contagious illnesses that could jeopardize the safety of the residents that they care for

Medical Errors Harm Patients...and Their Pocketbooks

questions@pintas.com (William G. Pintas) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:59:56 -0600

The unfortunate reality of our healthcare system is that hospitals designed to help patients often end up causing them even more pain. Each year, preventable medical mistakes contribute to nearly 190,000 deaths and more than 6 million injuries. Among the most common mistakes are procedures performed on the wrong body part, hospital-acquired infections, and medication mix-ups. These are serious adverse events that have serious consequences on the safety and well-being of patients.

A new report by the National Journal shows that patients are being forced to pay for medical errors in more ways than one. Researchers say that as much as 45 cents out of every dollar spent on U.S. health care is related to a medical mistake. Post-surgery infections are the single most expensive cause of harm, costing $3.36 billion in 2008. Bedsores, or pressure ulcers, cost nearly as much and occur just as frequently.

Because one out of every three patients will suffer from a medical mistake, patients are literally putting their physical and financial health at risk every time they step into a hospital. Despite recent efforts to curb medical errors, the problem seems to be worsening. If nearly half of every dollar is spent hurting someone, the medical community needs to be held accountable for their actions. If these avoidable errors continue to occur, patients will be forced to suffer the costly consequences.

White House Takes Action to Reduce Medical Mistakes

questions@pintas.com (William G. Pintas) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:58:12 -0600

For millions of patients and their families, the current health care system is woefully inadequate. Patients that rely on hospitals to treat them in their time of need are often further victimized by medical errors, injuries, and complications that are preventable. Some hospitals have attempted to improve patient care by adopting new safety strategies such as electronic records. But patients continue to be harmed. Where these hospitals have failed, the Obama Administration hopes to step in.

Federal officials announced an unprecedented health care initiative that pairs private insurers, business leaders, hospitals, and patient advocates in a cooperative attempt to eliminate preventable harm to patients. The goal is to save lives and money by reducing the number of avoidable mistakes the kill thousands of Americans every year.

After more than a dozen years of agonizingly slow progress, the new program aims to cut the number of harmful preventable conditions by 40 percent in the next three years. It also seeks to cut hospital readmissions by 20 percent. The results, if achieved, will be dramatic.

Not only will fatal mix-ups be reduced, such as wrong medications or wrong surgical procedures, but medical costs could be significantly cut. Although the work is funded by $1 billion from the new health care law, it has the potential to save Medicare up to $10 billion at the same time. Hospitals that improve care will be rewarded, along with physicians that meet higher standards. Ultimately, patients will realize the greatest benefit if hospitals once again become a place of healing rather than a source of harm.

Medical Errors Often Undetected

questions@pintas.com (William G. Pintas) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 09:55:50 -0600

After more than a decade of efforts to improve the quality of patient care in our nation’s hospitals, the problem continues to persist. And the problem may be even bigger than we realize. A study in this month’s journal Health Affairs found that the number of adverse events occurring in hospitals may be 10 times larger than previously estimated.

Sadly, even the most extreme mistakes, such as planting the wrong kidney in a patient, are often avoidable. However, the solution is far more complicated than hospitals first believed it to be. Despite sizable investments and aggressive promotional campaigns, efforts to improve quality are still highly inadequate. Even the most recent reporting systems fail to detect adverse events and cannot account for human error.

The Institute of Medicine famously exposed the inadequacies of our health care system in a 1999 report, which revealed that tens of thousands of American die from avoidable medical mistakes each year. Since that time, little, if any progress has been made. Patients rely on hospitals to help them heal, and injuries that are caused by medical mistakes rather than a patient’s underlying condition disadvantage patients in their most vulnerable state. Until significant changes are made, hospitals will continue to be a dangerous place for patients.

High-Risk Medical Devices Sold Without Proof of Safety

questions@pintas.com (William G. Pintas) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 09:51:46 -0600

The safety of certain medical devices, such as pacemakers and heart valves, is under serious scrutiny. These high-risk devices may lead to serious injury or death in patients, and government investigators found that lax review by the Food and Drug Administration is putting the public’s health even more at risk.

The Government Accountability Office recently faulted the FDA for approving the sale of several high-risk devices without conducting a close scientific review. Patients ultimately suffer the harm of this oversight because these devices are more likely to completely fail or malfunction.

The watchdog agency found that at least two dozen sensitive medical devices were allowed on the market without being properly tested, including metal hip joints, external defibrillators, and electrodes for pacemakers.

The now-recalled artificial hip sold by Johnson & Johnson is one example of a failed safety device that jeopardized the health of tens of thousands of Americans. The FDA approved the A.S.R., or Articular Surface Replacement, for sale without conducting clinical trials. The faulty hip began shedding metal particles and disinigregating in patients, leaving some of them crippled.

Medical devices are intended to prolong a patient’s life, not further endanger it. Medical malpractice attorneys at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm continue to advocate on behalf of all patients harmed by these defective devices.

Heartburn Drug Warning

questions@pintas.com (William G. Pintas) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:57:21 -0600

Every day, millions of Americans suffer from acid reflux and the troublesome symptoms it brings, including frequent heartburn, chest pain, and coughing. Many of them turn to acid-suppressing drugs like Prilosec and Prevacid for relief. But a new safety warning by the FDA is causing doctors to re-evaluate the risks and benefits of these popular treatments.

The FDA warns that long-term use of so-called proton-pump inhibitors that treat acid-reflux symptoms may actually have adverse effects. Patients that take the drugs for more than a year may end up with low magnesium levels, which can put them at risk for seizures, heartbeats, and muscle spasms.

Children that take acid-suppressing drugs to treat acid-reflux symptoms may be especially at risk. Proton-pump inhibitors are a common treatment for childhood gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, despite frequent questions about their effectiveness. The journal Pediatrics recently reported that children often experience side effects such as headache, stomach pain, and diarrhea. A study of infants even found that babies treated with proton-pump inhibitors had a higher rate of lung infections.

Americans of all ages should be aware that these medications simply may not work, or they may result in serious side effects. More research on the long-term safety and effectiveness of proton-pump inhibitors needs to be done to determine if the risks outweigh the benefits.

Heart Drug Linked to Breast Cancer

questions@pintas.com (William G. Pintas) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:58:02 -0600

Women taking medication to treat heart disease may actually be putting themselves at risk for another fatal illness. A new study shows that women taking the heart drug digoxin have an increased risk of breast cancer.

In a study of more than two million Danish women on digoxin, researchers found that they were 40 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than women not taking the drug. One possible explanation for the higher risk is that digoxin is used to treat irregular heart beats and heart disease, but can also act like the female hormone estrogen. Estrogen has been linked to breast cancer in older women.

The women with the highest risk were those in the first year of taking digoxin, along with those who took the drug more than three years. The risk appeared to disappear when women were taken off the drug.

Although the study does not conclusively establish that digoxin causes breast cancer, it is possible that the benefits of the heart drug may not outweigh the risks. Some women may be trading one chronic disease for another, putting their lives at risk